Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Juggernaut of hypocrisy but with steel tariffs

Azred · 03-06-2002, 07:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dramnek_Ulk:
President Bush has just levied a tariff upon imported steel; this contravenes all the free market rhetoric he's been going on about. It's purely a political thing to gain him votes and funding, so once again we see the evils of unrestrained capitalism. It just makes me glad I live in the slightly less corporately dominated E.U (although that’s not a picture of virtue either.) But of course in the end they are all hypocrites, as long as they are doing well business love the free market, but as soon as they get into trouble all their ideology goes out the window and they go running for the governments protection. Boo! hiss! down with Bush and the free market, Its bad, its all bad.

Votes? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] For what? Bush doesn't need votes; he's in office for another 2 years.

"The evils of unrestrained capitalism"? What of the evils of unrestrained socialism? Or unrestrained communism? Or unrestrained anything? Capitalism (or socialism, communism, etc.) is not, in and of itself, evil; it is simply a social/political theory and nothing more. Besides, there has never been any unrestrained capitalism in the history of the world; government always sets limits, controls, and/or taxes of some sort.

Are politicians hypocrites? Well, if they aren't then they probably wouldn't be elected. Why do people have this fairy-tale notion that politicians should never change their minds or never do anything to get reelected? Oh, well. Politicians have always and will always do expedient things or make deals with others to try and get their own little pet projects done; it is the nature of politics to make deals, not be ideologically inflexible. Or am I just cynical?

In general, though, tarriffs are almost always a bad idea. They restrict trade, which ultimately increases prices and reduces competition.

03-06-2002, 07:49 PM	#10
Azred Drow Priestess Join Date: March 13, 2001 Location: a hidden sanctorum high above the metroplex Age: 55 Posts: 4,037	quote: Originally posted by Dramnek_Ulk: President Bush has just levied a tariff upon imported steel; this contravenes all the free market rhetoric he's been going on about. It's purely a political thing to gain him votes and funding, so once again we see the evils of unrestrained capitalism. It just makes me glad I live in the slightly less corporately dominated E.U (although that’s not a picture of virtue either.) But of course in the end they are all hypocrites, as long as they are doing well business love the free market, but as soon as they get into trouble all their ideology goes out the window and they go running for the governments protection. Boo! hiss! down with Bush and the free market, Its bad, its all bad. Votes? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] For what? Bush doesn't need votes; he's in office for another 2 years. "The evils of unrestrained capitalism"? What of the evils of unrestrained socialism? Or unrestrained communism? Or unrestrained anything? Capitalism (or socialism, communism, etc.) is not, in and of itself, evil; it is simply a social/political theory and nothing more. Besides, there has never been any unrestrained capitalism in the history of the world; government always sets limits, controls, and/or taxes of some sort. Are politicians hypocrites? Well, if they aren't then they probably wouldn't be elected. Why do people have this fairy-tale notion that politicians should never change their minds or never do anything to get reelected? Oh, well. Politicians have always and will always do expedient things or make deals with others to try and get their own little pet projects done; it is the nature of politics to make deals, not be ideologically inflexible. Or am I just cynical? In general, though, tarriffs are almost always a bad idea. They restrict trade, which ultimately increases prices and reduces competition. __________________ Everything may be explained by a conspiracy theory. All conspiracy theories are true. No matter how thinly you slice it, it's still bologna.